Cargo theft more than doubled in the United Kingdom in the first quarter and rose 17 percent in the Netherlands, Europe's biggest container hub, according to data released by the Transported Asset Protection Association. The problem, however, is global.

Merchant ship operators have joined with seafarers’ unions urging European Union member states to take immediate action to curb the growing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, which they say is putting crews and schedule reliability at risk.

Alitalia unveiled plans to increase its cargo operations as part of a strategy to return to profitability in 2017 following years of losses, billions of dollars of state subsidies and a narrow escape from bankruptcy.